Heather Huffman's Blog, page 32

Fight Breast Cancer: Read a Book

[image error] My guests for today's Friday's Mark post are authors Tess Hardwick and Tracey Hansen, who have just released an essay anthology to benefit organizations fighting breast cancer called WRITE FOR THE FIGHT: A Collection of Seasonal Essays.

Tess and Tracey, like many of us, were frustrated by the pain and suffering breast cancer has inflicted on their loved ones.   They decided to use their talents to leave a mark on this world by creating, with 11 other writers, a compilation of humorous and heart-felt essays about the seasons of life we move through.  All authors are donating 100% of proceeds to organizations fighting breast cancer.

WRITE FOR THE FIGHT is a great example of the Leave Your Mark philosophy – no matter what our backgrounds, experiences and talents, we all have something to give. I've asked Tess and Tracey to share with us a little bit about their inspiration to "Write for the Fight". To introduce you to the essay questions, they then asked me to answer the same essay questions each writer answered – in less than two sentences.

Enjoy.

~Heather

Tess Hardwick – Why I Write for the Fight

[image error]I can remember the spot on the freeway when the idea came to me. It was a Sunday and I was on my way to church. My children were in the backseat of our minivan, "The White Whale", oblivious that I was awaiting results of an inconclusive mammogram. For days I'd been afraid for my children and husband and for myself too. I love this life; I devour every last ounce of it every single day and I'm not ready to leave. I thought, too, of the spectacular seasons of life, and how too many women are not given the opportunity to enjoy the middle and last season because of this awful disease. And I felt hopeless and scared, and as I offered it up to God, the idea just came to me. A diverse group of writers exploring the seasons of life and offering it as an anthology, the proceeds of which could fund breast cancer research. And the questions themselves came to me like they were directly handed down from the divine. I thought of Tracey Hansen next, also, like it was spoken in my ear from God. I knew in my gut she was the perfect partner, our polar opposite voices were perfectly pitched to soar together. She said yes. The next day I sent the book idea to the generous people at Booktrope and they said yes. We found 11 gifted writers who also wanted to participate and without a pause agreed to give all their profits to the 'cause' as well.

My mammogram came back clean. But other women, that same week, received the dreaded call. Two of my acquaintances, both mothers, were gone from this world, taken after arduous battles against breast cancer, by the time we finished the book. And so we must continue to fight.  And, writers? We have our words to offer. And so we did.

Tracey M. Hansen – Why I Write for the Fight

[image error]Words help me be funny.  Words help me tell a story.  Words have been the only means in which I have ever been able to communicate effectively, so when Tess asked me to be her partner-in-crime on this book, the answer was an easy one. Why not use my words to contribute to a cause close to my heart?

I want us to someday be able to pour water over the glowing embers of cancer and put it out forever.  I want generations to come speaking of cancer in past tense.  "What exactly was cancer Grandma?"

The writers whose words, talent and time were graciously donated to assist in our cause should be applauded in every way.  They are warriors for the cause. Their essays, ammunition, against this unforgiving enemy.  And we hope that this book stands as a reminder that everyone can make a difference, no matter your station or vocation.

Because after all, every word counts.

Heather Huffman Responds to Questions on the Seasons of Life

What do you miss about being 5 years old?  Jumping hay bales on Grandpa's farm and the days spent running through the fields or picking wildflowers – and fishing at the lake with Grandpa and Daddy.

What would you tell your 20-year-old self?  Don't worry so much what other people think of you.

What, at this point in your life, do you want, wish and dream of for your life going forward?  To have a little farm where I grow most of my own food, where I can have a few goats, chickens and horses and my boys can run and be boys.

I hope the books do well so I can keep writing – and that one of them (at least) will one day be made into a movie so my book manager and I can walk the red carpet together.

What would you want said about you on your 80th birthday?  She threw her arms open wide and grabbed a hold of life, she did what she could to help others, and she laughed a lot.

WRITE FOR THE FIGHT was selected by Barnes and Noble for participation in their exclusive NookFirst program and will be solely available on Nook for the first month, after which it will be more widely available in print and other ebook formats. Learn more about Tess at www.tesshardwick.com and Tracey at www.traceyhansen.com.

 

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Strong as a Bird

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The barn swallow is often seen as a symbol of hope, a common theme in my novels.

I'm often asked where I get the inspiration to write about the strong, resilient women in my novels. The short answer: it's all around me.  A piece of my life is in every book I write, along with the strength of the women I grew up around. The women in my family are a plucky bunch – maybe it's my roots, from the wild and rugged Ozark country that straddles Missouri and Arkansas – but they were always able to make something out of nothing and aren't afraid of hard work.

That could be why I'm drawn to actresses like Rachel McAdams. In addition to being ridiculously beautiful, she exudes strength and charisma. It also seems like she's an honest, straightforward person who uses her fame to better the world, and I can't help respecting that. Whenever I ask fans who should play the heroine when my one of my books is made into a movie, her name comes up more often than any other; I think it's because she embodies the moxie I hope my characters convey. Watching her on the big screen is undoubtedly an inspiration as I write.

Ultimately, what drives me as I put fingers to keyboard is a blend of the influences in my life and my own experience: I've lost every material thing I've owned, and I've had moments of such complete joy that they will be forever frozen in my memory because of their sheer perfection. Having seen both ends of the spectrum, I've learned that life is short enough to be cherished and long enough to never give up hope while there is a breath left to fight. And those moments of crazy joy are worth fighting for.

I was told once that my novels were too messy to ever succeed – too many bad things happened to the heroines. To make matters worse, they retained a sense of humor throughout the worst of times. Conventional wisdom insisted the literary market would never stand for that paradox.

At the time, that conversation broke my heart. I'd been so excited to share Jailbird, and I felt like I was being asked to choose between the words of my soul and the career of my dreams. I thought about it for a few days before deciding to stick with the stories in my head and take my chances, even if it meant I would never have a career in writing.

The way I see it, life is messy—and hard.  That doesn't mean we should lose our sense of humor or fail to find joy.This is the message I try to instill through all my novels, including Jailbird, and above all, my own life. I hope it's a message you enjoy reading.

Since Jailbird is the novel that set me on the path I'm currently on, there is a certain poetry to seeing it climb the charts now. Maybe that's an understatement – I feel like I could spread my wings and fly just like the bird in the picture for this post. In the past week, it's been # 1 on Amazon's Movers and Shakers List, # 2 on Amazon's Free list, #10 on Amazon's Romance list (paid) and in the top 50 overall!

Few things in life can compare to the feeling of seeing your book on the same list with greats like Nora Roberts, or sitting right smack in between two Suzanne Collins novels!

To celebrate, I'd like to giveaway one complete autographed set of my novels (Throwaway, Suddenly a Spy, Ties That Bind, Jailbird & Ring of Fire). To enter, check out contest details at the top of my right navigation bar!

Many thanks to all who have shared this journey with me – I'm looking forward to the road ahead!

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Hailey's Mark

[image error]My Friday's Mark guest today is a figment of my imagination, but maybe not so much as some of the other characters floating around in my head. I share many things with Hailey Brandt, the heroine in my next novel, Tumbleweed: her lost childhood farm, her antics, her longing for a place to belong, her tween-age son… I could go on. She also shares with me that sense of tumbling through life. The below is a "deleted scene" from the first draft of my next release, Tumbleweed. It didn't fit with the flow of the book enough to make the final cut, but it perfectly captures what set both Hailey and me on a journey that would forever change us, a journey to leave our mark on this world instead of perpetually tumbling. ~Heather

 

Tumbleweed. Salsola collina. Most people don't realize it's actually kind of a pretty plant when it's young. Eventually it dries up and breaks off from its roots and well, tumbles. It has lots of unusual uses – you can even make glass with it.  I heard that somewhere. Everyone knows it symbolizes the Old West, even though it came from Mongolia.

I'm obsessed with tumbleweed lately. Maybe because I'd like to think I'm still useful in fun and unusual ways – even though I feel kind of dried up, and I tend to tumble in the breeze more than the average person.

I used to be pretty when I was young, too. Vivacious and full of life. I feel a little drab these days. Not sure if you can get vivacious back, but I've got to try. I want to see my son laugh and be a boy. I don't want him to worry about his mama because he can see the sadness in her eyes. So, I've made my decision. My family thinks I'm crazy, but that's not new. Either way, our adventure begins now.  ~Hailey

About Tumbleweed:

In this long-anticipated prequel to international hit THROWAWAY, Heather Huffman takes her readers on a journey of friendship, love and family ties. The message is clear: Never stop fighting for the life you believe in.

Longing for a fresh start and a place to belong, Hailey leaves behind her city life, trading her cubical for a struggling horse ranch in the Ozark Mountains. With her young son at her side and her family's skepticism echoing in her head, Hailey is faced with more work than she ever could have imagined and a troublesome neighbor. In the midst of it all, the last thing Hailey needs is romance – despite the undeniable, growing attraction for her handsome and charming boss, Ethan.

Just as Hailey finds her dreams tantalizingly within reach, her new world is devastated in a cruel twist of fate. She must find the strength to rebuild all she's dreamed of – or risk forever drifting through life like a tumbleweed.

Heather Huffman fans will not want to miss this heart-warming introduction to Ethan and Hailey, beloved owners of the Tumbleweed Ranch featured in THROWAWAY and RING OF FIRE!

Check out the contest to the right for a chance to win one of five e-copies of Tumbleweed!

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Fields of Yellow

[image error]I can't wait for dandelion season! Seeing a field of yellow always brings joy to my heart. My boys and I love gathering these happy yellow flowers to make fritters and coffee. The walks are as enjoyable as the treats they'll produce. When the rest of the neighborhood is cursing the yellow dotting their yards, I lovingly tend to mine.

(Which I'm certain the neighbors appreciate, given the dandelion's tendency to spread. They're probably counting the days until my family leaves suburbia for a farm!)

I used to dutifully pull them from my gardens because that's what I was supposed to do. The hillbilly in me knew they were edible and pretty useful, but to have them dot my yard meant I was doing something wrong as a proper suburban homeowner. The more I learned about dandelions, though, the less able I was to pull them.

They're a pretty cool plant. They've been around for about 30 million years and have provided a source of food and herbal medicine for most of our recorded history. Other than making dandelion chains, here are some other uses and/or benefits that have been discovered over the years:

Important source of early nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies
Roots used as a source for cheap coffee
Flowers can be used to make wine
Add flavors to salads, sandwiches and teas
Fresh dandelion jelly has a light, honey-like taste
Rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc
Used to treat liver problems, kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn and stomach upset, digestive disorders, appendicitis, breast problems (such as inflammation or lack of milk flow), fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, diarrhea, gallbladder problems, acne and warts
Can also be a diuretic, laxative, an antiviral agent, appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and antioxidant
Can improve the immune system, detoxify the liver, support kidney function and improve the health and function of natural bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract

Perhaps the most interesting claim of all came from George Cairns of Woodstock, Illinois when he published a recipe for a cure… for cancer. Sound crazy? While I certainly wouldn't disregard my doctor's advice in favor of a dandelion cure, scientific studies have shown that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) can increase effectiveness in radiation therapy for lung cancer. Other researchers point to CAPE as a potential preventative and/or therapeutic agent in controlling cell transformation. Breast cancer researchers have shown that caffeic acid inhibits tumor growth.

Wanna guess what produces caffeic acid? Dandelions.

Wouldn't it be ironic if Americans were spending millions of dollars on chemicals to kill off the one plant that has shown promise in developing a cure for cancer?

As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, "A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

So when I wrote Jailbird, a story about a resilient young woman whose virtues had gone completely unnoticed by the world at large, it only seemed natural that dandelions would be a part of her story.

Neena's journey began when I dreamt her jailbreak. It was such a vivid dream it never even occurred to me to open the book any other way. I loved writing this novel – I love the characters so much that to this day, three years later, when I see a dandelion, I think of Neena and smile.

This book is so important to me that when, a couple of years ago, I was told a successful career in writing meant walking away from trying to see Jailbird published, I decided to take my chances with an oddly warm and funny book about a jailbird named Neena. (For the record, I'm so very glad I did because that led me to Booktrope, a publisher who saw what I did in this book.)

When Booktrope told me they wanted to give Jailbird away for five days as a promotion on Amazon, I couldn't have been happier. I'm thrilled to get this story in the hands of more readers. Her story embodies the idea that no matter how dark it seems, no matter how bad it gets, there is hope.

Maybe this week is what Neena's story needs to, like a dandelion seed in the springtime breeze, spread hope like field of yellow.

Now through Saturday, February 25, you can download Jailbird for Kindle free on Amazon.

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Friday's Mark: 61 Strong

My Friday's Mark blogger today is my oldest son, Dylan. If you're noticing the post is a little later than normal, that's because blogging isn't his favorite thing in the world. He's much happier chatting with someone in person, although he's happiest chatting to his horse. He's here today to talk about his newest effort to leave his mark through a project he started with his cousins. ~Heather

 

I'm writing today to tell you a little about 61 Strong, a group I started with my cousins last fall.  61 Strong is a group of children and young adults who mainly works to help stop human trafficking, or modern day slavery, and also to tell other kids and young adults that they are never too young to help, and their help is appreciated.

I have to admit that writing blog posts is not my strongest area; in fact, what was supposed to be a morning project of writing this post turned into a daylong project, again, due to the fact that I strongly dislike blogging.  I am very much looking forward to my cousin taking over this aspect of 61 Strong.  My favorite part of this gig is talking to the different people and spreading the word.  I honestly cannot tell you why I started 61 Strong; the best answer I can give you is that I just did. It seemed like the right thing to do.

By the way, a lot of times we get asked where the name 61 Strong came from; it came from Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

One organization that 61 Strong works with is Project Liberty. They work with private investigators to help find trafficking victims, and once they find the person, they contact the authorities.  Another organization we support is World vision. World Vision does a lot of amazing stuff around the world, from offering hope to sexually exploited girls to feeding small children.

We also work with Liberty in North Korea, (LINK.). LINK is a group of college students who work to stop the human rights crisis going on in North Korea.  While we are talking about LINK, 61 Strong's goal for 2012 is to help LINK save one North Korean refugee, which costs about $2,500. To help us to meet our goal, we created a Crowdrise campaign. We are partnering with my mom to put together a screening of LiNK's documentary. I am also brainstorming with my cousins about fundraisers to put together throughout the year.   If you want more information on 61 Strong or any of the organizations we support, you can learn more about us at www.61strong.org.

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My Sons' Hero

It all started when I canceled my cable subscription because I was tired of my children's minds being filled with garbage. We took out a subscription to Netflix so we could stream things that were truly family friendly. It's still hard to find shows that don't pollute our kiddos, but it's possible.

One of my oldest son's favorites is Hercules, The Legendary Journeys. I'm pretty sure he's seen them all now; actually, he might even have them memorized. He was the one who pointed out that some of the later shows don't have the title character in them as often – a fact that had gone completely unnoticed by me.

It was also through Netflix that we found the movie What If, which was a hit with all of my boys. When we watched the incredible movie Soul Surfer, all three boys were thrilled to discover it co-starred the man who had become their favorite actor, Kevin Sorbo. After the life-changing year my own family had in 2011, Soul Surfer was particularly poignant. It left my middle son inspired to use his second chance at life to help others – a lesson I hope sticks with him through life. But that's probably for another post.

It was at that point that my oldest son excitedly asked me, "I wonder if Kevin Sorbo is a Christian?" To which I replied, "I don't know, let's Google it." It sounds funny, but sure enough, the search turned up an article where the great Kevin Sorbo was sharing his faith. My boys were ecstatic. (They also instantly wanted to Google every favorite actors' faith, but again, that's another story.)

Our search also turned up that Mr. Sorbo recently wrote a book called True Strength, and that he would be in St. Louis soon to promote said book. I could tell by the look on my son's face that it would mean the world to him to meet his hero, so we splurged, and he and I had a rare chance to go out just the two of us.

The talk and book signing was last December, but the message is still fresh in my mind. It comes back to me on the days I feel like giving up.

Until the talk, I had no idea that the reason Hercules was absent from so many episodes towards the end of the series was because Kevin Sorbo had suffered three strokes from an aneurysm in his shoulder, leaving him partially blind and entirely incapacitated at the age of 38. During his presentation, he talked about his successes and failures, the impact of the strokes on his life, and gave the audience a glimpse into the man behind the image.

What I found was a likable human being who loves his wife and kids, has worked hard to get where he is – twice – and has sage advice for following your dreams. His talk encouraged me as a writer and dream chaser, enlightened me as a mother helping a child overcome a traumatic  brain injury, and instilled in me a deep respect for my sons' hero.

The icing on the cake was the brief chance to meet Mr. Sorbo while he signed my oldest son's copy of the book. He was kind and patient with everyone, and that two minutes of talk time meant the world to my teenage son.

On a side note: I walked away with the handy tip to give out Post-its at book signings so people could write out the name they want the book made out to. It's surprisingly difficult to talk to someone and listen to how they want something signed – why did I not think of Post-it notes?

Sticky note brilliance aside, I highly recommend the book – and the talk if you find he's coming to a town near you. It's money and time well spent.

 

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Favorite Couples – Valentine's Day Contest!

In celebration of Valentine's Day, I will be hosting a contest from February 12 – February 14.  Two lucky winners will receive a free complete set of autographed Heather Huffman's books.

The Rules: To enter, check out the Favorite Couple Giveaway box on the right-hand side of this page. To help me keep track of everything, please make sure you follow all of the instructions. Once you log in to enter the giveaway, you will see that there are three ways to enter; you're encouraged to do all three to improve your chances of winning!

I originally intended to run the contest about favorite literary couples and to write a blog post about the couples from my books. Then I talked to my mom about the post in an attempt to overcome writer's block, and she told me about her favorite couple: her grandma and grandpa. She loves that they were married forever and knew what the other was thinking with just a look. Sometimes, though, a certain look would find the spark that ignited all those years ago at the beginning.

It was their love that instilled a romantic's heart in my mama, which she passed on to me. She's been married to my daddy since 1968, and I think they are more in love now than they were then. It wasn't always pretty, but they held on fiercely to what they had and somehow made it through those rough spots.

So maybe that's why the couples in my books go through so much together. The rush of first love is fun, but there is something intrinsically beautiful in a couple that can speak volumes with a glance, that has a history known only to them, that has chosen to hang on fiercely to their love.

Contest Eligibility:  Applicants only accepted from Continental US and you must be over 13 years old to enter.   Entries will be accepted through February 14, 2012.  Winners will be notified on February 15.  Happy Valentines Day!

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Friday's Mark Everyday Heroes

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My middle sister at the barn where we ride together

I don't have long before I'm supposed to dash out the door. I'm spending the day talking about slavery with my sister's students; she's an 8th grade teacher and they're in a lesson on the Civil War and slavery. Her students were shocked to hear slavery still abounds. When I hear her talk about her job, I'm amazed by the lives she touches. Talk about leaving a mark on the world – we all have a teacher we can point to and say, "That person made a true difference in my life." My oldest sister is that teacher for many kids.

With one sister teaching and me writing, the sister in the middle starts to worry she's not doing enough. It frustrates me to no end that she can't see herself for who she truly is. She's a single mother to six children (two are now grown, but there are still four at home). They're all great kids. Her daughters are growing to be the kind of women who will change the world, and she's integral to that. We often underestimate the kind of lasting, positive change we leave on this world simply by being good parents.

She's always the first one to make a meal for the homeless or the sick, she's spent countless hours sitting and reading her Bible to friends in nursing homes, and she never forgets to call and check on her sisters when they're sick or down about something.

And, as silly as it sounds, I've never been to the store with my sister that she doesn't befriend somebody. In a world full of scowls, she has a natural ability to find the smile buried within someone. We need more smiles; they make this planet a better place.

She is such a sparkling ray of light in my world, it confounds me when she questions whether she's doing enough. But I wonder: How many other everyday people are out there making the world a better place without even realizing their impact?

There's no giveaway this Friday – look for a bigger one to be announced on Sunday – but I'd still love to hear from you. Who is that ray of light making a difference in your life? Comment on the blog or Facebook, or Tweet about it (be sure to use the #FridaysMark hashtag!).

Oh, and please forgive any typos, misspellings or crazy punctuation. I've been working from home for so long, this is a brutal hour of the morning for me and I've only had one cup of coffee…

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Romancing the Book Giveaway

Many thanks to Romancing the Book for having me as a guest today! Stop by to check out the interview, and enter to win an e-copy of Ring of Fire.

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Warning: Happiness Inside

I'm toying with the idea of adding a warning label to my books because it seems like many of the negative reviews I receive are from people who expected something much grittier and darker. I can't say I blame them. I write about prostitutes and escaped convicts – the characters in the "lighter" books are battling human trafficking or recuperating from the loss of a loved one. I've tried to get better about being clear in the book descriptions, but I don't think we're there yet.

I appreciate the opinions found in my reviews – I learned from my daddy long ago that opinions are like belly buttons; we all have them. As much as I want everyone to love my books, there are some things about them I simply won't change. I couldn't change them and be true to who I am and what I'm trying to do.

If someone tells me my characters weren't developed enough or my ending was too abrupt, initially hearing it might sting a bit, but I'll do my very best to improve in that area on the next novel. It's a learning process, just like anything else.

There are some things, though, that will never change. Here they are, along with my reason why:

1) My books won't exclude darkness because it's a part of life. I can't ignore it and write anything remotely true. Besides, it's like being afraid to say Voldemort's name in Harry Potter – it gives the darkness more power than it deserves to tap dance around it.

2) That said, as a person, I don't spend a whole lot of time dwelling on things that are sad or dark. One of my favorite Psalms says "Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." That pretty much sums up my outlook on life, so that's the kind of world my characters live in. Besides, my purpose in writing the books isn't to fully explore the seedy underbelly of prostitution, human trafficking or corporate greed. I do want to shine a light on them, but I'd much rather spend words on my characters as a human than on their occupation.

3) More than any other, Throwaway comes under fire for being unrealistic. It's been said that Jessie isn't a true picture of a prostitute, but having spent time with women who landed on the streets through no fault of their own, I believe her humanity is very real. I've received too many emails from foster children, former foster children and rescued slaves to believe I'm too far off track. I'm not interested in perpetuating stereotypes – the heroines in my novel couldn't be more different on the surface, but they're all women underneath. The same can be said of real life. If you peel back the layers – things like jobs, finances and religion – you will find that there are many common threads to humanity. The throwaway on the street wants to be loved just as much as the pampered princess. She has a life and a story to tell that matters every bit as much as anyone else's. I plan to keep telling those stories and to keep focusing on the person, not the ins and outs of their occupation.

4) Sex: Some say there's way too little of it in my books; humorously, others say there's too much. Here's the deal – I'm a Christian writing books for the mainstream market. I think Christian books have their place, but I've never much cared for them. They don't ring true because the characters aren't allowed to sin. I find that kind of odd because the Bible says we all sin. How can I write a book without it? Some of my characters cuss, lose their temper, and even sleep with their boyfriends because we do those things. I'm not glorifying it or demonizing it – it just is. My books will never give intricate details of anyone's love life, though. Because of my faith, I don't feel that's appropriate. They're also never going to shy away from passion because it's an integral part of falling in love. Heck, it's the fun part.

The truth is, I love love. I love writing about people falling in love and watching their story unfold. I also love watching the novel's heroine figure out that she has worth, she can have a profound effect on her world, and life is not meant to be endured. I love the fact that we're never too far gone for grace to find us; life is full of chances to start anew, if we only have the courage to grab hold of it.

I also love to laugh, my whole family does. When life goes horribly awry, we spend our tears, and then we laugh. So it stands to reason that my characters' sense of humor will remain solidly in place no matter what their circumstance.

My goal in putting pen to paper is to write something I believe in that will also entertain my readers. I'm on a journey, and I'm both humbled and thankful every time a reader chooses to take that journey with me.

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